JANUARY 2004
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North Dakota Builds
on Ag Base
Missouri Notches Saves
Omaha Enjoying Renaissance
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CENTRAL PLAINS REGIONAL REVIEW
Wind Blows In
New Plains Projects
New Plains Projects
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hicago may be the Windy City, but the plains states are plainly the windy region. With North Dakota dubbed the "Saudi Arabia of wind energy" and Kansas, South Dakota and Nebraska not far behind, the area offers a great untapped resource with considerable economic potential. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) estimates the total amount of electricity that could potentially be generated from wind in these states could exceed the amount of electricity generated in the U.S. today.
"The wind potential of North Dakota is fantastic," says Rob Rebenitsch, project manager for Basin Electric Power Cooperative in Bismarck. "Wind is extremely popular and environmentally benign."
But there is a big catch – transmission, or rather, lack of it, to move electricity to the big user states on the east and west coasts. "It's a Gordian Knot and we need somebody to come along with a large broadsword," Rebenitsch says.
Meanwhile, projects such as the US$65-million Edgeley-Kulm Wind Farm offer a glimpse at what might one day be a gigantic cash crop for the state. Basin Electric is buying the production of 27 of the 41 wind turbines at the farm developed by FPL Energy of Juno, Fla., the largest U.S. producer of wind energy.
However, a recent business conditions index produced by Creighton University economist Ernie Goss offers optimism across the region. Here's a state-by-state rundown of Goss' latest assessment:
• Kansas: "While I don't expect Kansas to replace many of the lost manufacturing jobs, I do expect service sector gains to more than compensate manufacturing losses."
• Nebraska: "Nebraska added 2,300 jobs (through October) for 2003. Surveys over the past several months indicated that job growth will continue, but at a much improved rate in 2004."
• Missouri: "After losing 2.9 percent of its jobs in 2001 and 2002, Missouri actually added 1,600 jobs for 2003. I expect the jobs gains to continue at a much higher rate."
• North Dakota: "Contrary to the region and the nation, North Dakota added jobs for 2003. While the 2003 job gains have been less than 1,900, I expect the rate of improvement to rise significantly into 2004."
• South Dakota: "South Dakota experienced job growth of less than one half of one percent for the first nine months of 2003. I expect that rate of job gains to double for the rest of 2003 and the first quarter of 2004.
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"The wind potential of North Dakota is fantastic," says Rob Rebenitsch, project manager for Basin Electric Power Cooperative in Bismarck. "Wind is extremely popular and environmentally benign."
But there is a big catch – transmission, or rather, lack of it, to move electricity to the big user states on the east and west coasts. "It's a Gordian Knot and we need somebody to come along with a large broadsword," Rebenitsch says.
Meanwhile, projects such as the US$65-million Edgeley-Kulm Wind Farm offer a glimpse at what might one day be a gigantic cash crop for the state. Basin Electric is buying the production of 27 of the 41 wind turbines at the farm developed by FPL Energy of Juno, Fla., the largest U.S. producer of wind energy.
Economic Winds Offer Optimism
Like much of the country, the plains states produced a mixed bag of economic results in 2003. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, whose jurisdiction includes the Dakotas, describes North Dakota as a comparative "manufacturing oasis," having lost only 800 manufacturing jobs from its jobs peak in 2001. South Dakota, however, has lost 6,800 manufacturing jobs from its jobs peak in 1999, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.However, a recent business conditions index produced by Creighton University economist Ernie Goss offers optimism across the region. Here's a state-by-state rundown of Goss' latest assessment:
• Kansas: "While I don't expect Kansas to replace many of the lost manufacturing jobs, I do expect service sector gains to more than compensate manufacturing losses."
• Nebraska: "Nebraska added 2,300 jobs (through October) for 2003. Surveys over the past several months indicated that job growth will continue, but at a much improved rate in 2004."
• Missouri: "After losing 2.9 percent of its jobs in 2001 and 2002, Missouri actually added 1,600 jobs for 2003. I expect the jobs gains to continue at a much higher rate."
• North Dakota: "Contrary to the region and the nation, North Dakota added jobs for 2003. While the 2003 job gains have been less than 1,900, I expect the rate of improvement to rise significantly into 2004."
• South Dakota: "South Dakota experienced job growth of less than one half of one percent for the first nine months of 2003. I expect that rate of job gains to double for the rest of 2003 and the first quarter of 2004.